Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2401, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1995, c. 145, §1, is further amended to read:

4. Drugs. "Drugs" means scheduled drugs as defined under Title 17-A, section 1101. The term "drugs" includes any natural or artificial chemical substance, including methadone, that, when taken into the human body, can impair the ability of the person to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2521, sub-§§1 and 5, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, are amended to read:

1. Mandatory submission to test. If there is probable cause to believe a person has operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, that person shall submit to and complete a test to determine blood-alcohol level and drug concentration by analysis of blood, breath or urine. If a person is taking methadone and is stopped by a law enforcement officer while operating a motor vehicle, the person must inform the officer that the person is taking methadone.

5. Suspension for refusal. The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the license of a person who fails to submit to and complete a test or fails to inform a law enforcement officer that the person is taking methadone as required by subsection 1.

SUMMARY

This bill affirms that methadone is a drug under the criminal-operating-under-the-influence statutes and requires a person taking methadone to inform a law enforcement officer if the officer stops that person while the person is driving.